Apparatus for conditioning grain



June 4, 1935. L. R. ,HENKLE 2,004,001

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN I Filed Sept, 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l4 T7 ,7 l7 7 v4 6 4 /6 lit-f6 4 I WEN OE L R. HEN/v1.5.

A/R COMPRESSOR June 4, 1935. R HENKLE 2,004,001

AIPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN Filed Sept. 10, 1931. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2//v ws/vre: L. R. HEN/(LE HTTORWEK Patented June 4, 1935 APPARATUS FORCONDITIONING GRAIN Louis B. Henkle, Lawrenceburg Ind., assignor toPneumatic Process Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of IndianaApplication september m, 1931, Serial No. 562,055

3 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning grain, and morespecifically it relates to a system wherein a current of air is employedto introduce and distribute the conditioning agent.

When grain is stored in a bin it is often desirable to subject the grainto the action of a conditioning agent, such as a fumigant, to eitherimprove the quality of the grain or to prevent the deterioration thatwould otherwise result from the attacks of insects, or the like. How'.ever, due to the great mass of grain usually in a bin, it has long beena problem to thoroughly mix a conditioning agent with all of the grainin the large storage bin. It is extremely important that theconditioning agent, especially when the conditioning agent is afumigant, be thoroughly distributed throughout the mass of the grain. Ifonly a portion of the grain is subjected to the action of the fumigant,insects will remain alive in the portions not fumigated and not onlydestroy these portions, but also the fumigated portions when thefumigant has ceased to be active.

Prior to this invention it has been proposed to fumigate grain in a binby mixing the fumigant with a current of air and transmitting themixture through the grain in the bin. However, the fumigant has not beenthoroughly commingled with the air. As a consequence, a large portion ofthe fumigant would remain in a substantially liquid state so that itwould not be thoroughly distributed throughout all the grain in the bin.The relatively large liquid particles may be forced into the bin, butthis would deliver excess liquid to the lower portion of the bin andfail to accomplish the desired result.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus forconditioning grain in which the conditioning agent is thoroughlyatomized by a current of air and efiectively distributed throughout themass of grain.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which thecurrent of air used to distribute the conditioning agent will withdrawthe conditioning agent from a source of supply into the air anddistribute the conditioning agent in the grain.

The mixture of air and fumigant should be forced into the bin at a lowvelocity, but the atomizing and mixing operations are preferablyperformed by projecting a finely divided spray of the fumigant into ablast of air moving at a relatively high velocity. I will hereafter showhow these conditions can be obtained by restricting the air passage toincrease the velocity of the air in the atomizing zone where thefumigant commingles with the air. 1

To produce the desired atomization and mixing, and to obtain therequired proportions in'the mixture, itis necessary to regulate the flowof 5 both the air and the other conditioning agent. One of my objects isto provide a simple regulating means whereby these results can be easilyand positively obtained.

It is also important to know that the results are being accomplished.

Therefore, other objects are to provide a means for indicating thedelivery of conditioning agent to the current of air, and a device forindicating the atomization of the conditioning agent in the air.

Another object is to produce a system whereby the grain in a bin issubjected to different treatments, depending upon the condition of thegrain. Under some conditions, air alone is most beneficial, while otherconditions require the addition of a conditioning agent, such as afumigant. The present invention provides for a delivery of the mixtureat a low velocity, and this treatment may be preceded or followed by thestep of forcing air alone through the bin at a much higher velocity, soas to thoroughly aerate the grain as a treatment separate and distinctfrom the other conditioning treatment.

Actual tests of .my invention have shown that the treatment by air aloneis highly important, and that if such treatment is regularly carried outat the required velocity, the purifying action of the air, will almosteliminate all necessity of using a fumigant, or the like. However, thepresent invention provides a combination of conditions whereby. eitherof the operations can be very easily performed, in a simple manner andat a low cost.

A further object is to produce a system including a series of bins andselective controlling means whereby the grain in one bin is treatedindependently of the grain in the other bins. More specifically stated,the grain in each bin can be selectively aerated or fumigated, under thevarying conditions desired for either aeration or fumigation,independently of the treating conditions existing in the other bins.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprisesthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore specifically described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention.

However,- it is to be understood that the invention 55 compnehendschanges, variations and modifications which come within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical side view of a system embodying the featuresof this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view, partly in section, showing one of thegrain bins and conductors through which the diiferent fluids aretransmitted to the bin.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section showing one 01' the atomizinginjectors, the indicating devices and the regulating means associatedtherewith shown a group of grain bins 4, an air compressor or blower 5connected to said bins by means of an air conductor 6 provided withbranches I leading into the lower ends of the respective bins.

Each of the branches I is provided with a pipe 8 connected to a supplypipe 9 which leads to a receptacle 9' for the conditioning agent, sothis conditioning agent can flow through the pipe 9 and pipes 8 intoeach of the air conductors I.

To insure a thorough mixing of the conditioning agent with the air, eachof the pipes 8 is provided with a mixing device. Each mixing devicepreferably comprises an atomizing injector in one of the air conductorsI. The injector includes a suction nozzle Ill forming a restriction insaid branch conductor I. The suction nozzle I is provided with anoutwardly flaring discharge passageway II from which the fumigant isdischarged and atomized in the current of air.

The suction nozzle I 0 is preferably turned in the direction of the flowof air in said branch conductor 1, so that the blast of air issuing fromthe restricted space around said suction nozzle will withdraw thefumigant from the nozzle. A flaring spray of atomized fumigant is thuscommingled with the blast of air.

As a further aid to the discharge of fumigant into the branch pipe I,the air supply conductor 6 may be provided with a pipe I! leading to thetop of the'receptacle 9' so that the liquid fumigant in the receptaclewill be subjected to the static pressure of the air in the air supplyconductor.

Since it is important to know whether the fumigant is being thoroughlyatomized, each of the air conductors is provided with a device forindicating the atomization of the fumigant in the air. This devicepreferably includes a tubular discharge member I! extending into saidair conductor below the outlet of the suction device as shown in Fig. 3.The tubular member l3 has an inclined inner end open at the top toreceive unatomized fumigant. The air conductor Iis preferably vertical,so unatomized fumigant will fall by gravity on the inner face of saidair conductor and pass into the tubular member. This tubular member I!is provided with a valve H which is opened when it is desired to testthe atomization of the fumigant.

If the fumigant is not being properly atomized, the air will force thefumigant through the tubular member II. If the fumigant is beingproperly atomized air alone will escape through the tubular member 13.

However, if the fumigant is not discharged into the air conductor I thetesting device for atomization of the fumigant will give a falseindication. To eliminate such a condition the branch pipe 8 may beprovided with a discharge device It, in the form of a pet cock, whichmay be opened to show whether fumigant is flowing therethrough.

To illustrate one form of this invention I have eight hours or more.

when the device I3, I 4 for indicating the atomization of the fumigantshows that the fumigant is not being properly atomized, it is necessaryto regulate the admission of the fumigant, or the air, or both. As ameans for regulating the atomization of the fumigant, a valve I6 islocated in the air conductor 1 and another valve II in the fumigantconductor 8.

The system may be operated as follows:

The fumigant receptacle 9' is filled by introducing liquid fumigantthrough a. funnel I8 at the top of said receptacle, and when the gageglass l9 shows the desired quantity, the valve 20 below the funnel isclosed. The valve 2| in the air pipe I2 is then opened to transmit thestatic pressure of the air to the liquid fumigant.

The pressure on the fumigant is then equal to, or greater than, thestatic pressure of the air in the branch conductors I, so the liquidfumigant can be freely withdrawn from each suction nozzle ID in responseto the action of the blast of air which passes at a relatively highvelocity from the restricted air space around said nozzle.

The fumigant valve II (Fig. 3) is opened, and as a preliminary test, thedischarge cock I is opened to show whether the fumigant is passing thevalve II. Assuming that this indicates a proper delivery of fumigant,the cock I5 is closed, and the air valve li in the air conductor I isopened as far as possible. However, the velocity of the air will then betoo great.

The next step consists in opening the testing valve I4 (Fig. 3) in theair conductor I, and. this will result in a discharge of air alonethrough the tube I 3. Then start closing the air valve l6, and when thisvalve is almost closed, drops of liquid fumigant will be dischargedthrough the tube l3.

This shows that the fumigant is not being completely atomized, and theair valve I6 is then slowly opened until no free liquid is dischargedfrom the tube I3.

In actual practice, using a three-inch air pipe at I, and a 34 fumigantconductor at 9, I have found that the foregoing adjustments will resultin the vaporization of about 20 gallons of liquid fumigant in about onehour. About five minutes, more or less, before the expiration of thisperiod, the fumigant odor will be noticed at the top of the grain bin.

The bin is then fully charged with fumigant in a gaseous state, and itmay be sealed for forty- Thereafter, fresh air is forced through the binto expel all of the gas.

The foregoing refers to a treatment involving the use of a fumigant, orother conditioning agent commingled with the air. However, whenperformed under the required conditions, the treatment by air alone ishighly important, for as previously indicated, the purifying action ofthe air under such conditions almost entirely eliminates the necessityof using a fumigant.

An important diiference in the two treatments lies in the low velocitywhich I prefer to employ in delivering the fumigant, as compared withthe much higher velocity during my treatment with air alone.

For example, to obtain the required purification by air alone, Ipreferably introduce the air at a velocity high enough to completely mlthe bin with fresh air during a period of about 10 or minutes, and thisoperation may be continued for many hours, until the desiredpurification is obtained. On the other hand, the fumigating process ispreferably carried out at a velocity so low that an hour or two isrequired to completely displace the foul air in the bin.

While I have referred to high velocities, it is to be understood thatthis is a relative expression, as I have found that an air pressure ofless than five pounds per square inch is sufficient for the highestvelocity, and extremely high air pressures have failed to accomplish thedesired results. This is true not only in fumigating, but also inaeration wherein the air in a very large grain bin is displaced in about10 or 15 minutes.

The regulating system herein disclosed enables the grain in each bin tobe treated independently of the action in the other bins. For example,any selected bin can be fumigated at a very low velocity and thensealed, while the grain in the other bins is subjected to a current ofpure air alone, moving at a much higher velocity. In actual practice, Iaerate the grain at regular in-' tervals, and this eliminates the laborand expense ordinarily involved in turning the grain. During thesenormal operations, the fumigant valves H are closed to exclude thefumigant from the air, but whenever necessary, or desirable, a set ofthe regulating and indicating devices are manipulated to fumigate thegrain in any selected bin, without disturbing the radically differentconditions in the other bins.

Some liquid fumigants are dangerous, or otherwise objectionable, and thecost of some desirable fumigants is so great that they would not becommercially feasible. My study of this subject followed by actualcommercial use has shown that ethylene dichloride, or preferably amixture of ethylene dichloride and carbon tetrachloride offers acomplete solution to this problem. For example, a mixture of three partsethylene dichloride and one part carbon tetrachloride will produce thedesired liquid fumigant.

Or, if preferred, a gas fumigant may be used as shown in Fig. 1, whereina tank 22 containing the compressed gas is connected by a pipe 23 to thefumigant conductor 9, said pipe having a valve 24 to control thedischarge of gas.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for conditioning grain in a grain bin, an airconductor through which air is forced into the bin, an atomizing deviceincluding a discharge member in said air conductor, said air conductorbeing substantially vertical at said discharge member, a fumigantconductor through which fumigant is transmitted to said dischargemember, so as to atomize said fumigant in the air in said air conductor,means to control said atomization, said means including a valveregulating the delivery of fumigant to said discharge member, and avalve controlling the delivery of air to said discharge member, means toindicate the flow through said fumigant conductor, and anotherindicating means comprising a valve through which fluid is dischargedfrom said air conductor to indicate the atomization of the fumiganttherein.

2. In an apparatus for conditioning grain in a grain bin, an air supplypipe leading to the grain bin, a receptacle for the conditioning agent,a pipe connecting said air supply pipe and said receptacle to subjectthe conditioning agent to the static pressure of the air in said airsupply pipe, a conductor having an inlet in said receptacle and anatomizing injector including an outlet member in said air supply pipe,said outlet member being extended in the direction of the flow of theair in said air supply pipe so that the air passing through said pipewill withdraw the conditioning agent through said conductor from saidreceptacle and into said air supply pipe, said conductor being providedwith a valve to regulate the flow of conditioning agent through theconductor and a means to indicate the flow of the conditioning agent,said air supply pipe being provided with a valve to regulate the supplyof air, and a means to indicate the atomization of the conditioningagent in said air supply pipe, said last mentioned means including atubular member extending into said air conductor below said outlet andadapted to receive unatomized liquid, said tubular member having anoutlet outside of said conductor through which liquid is discharged whenit is not being properly atomized, and a valve to control the flowthrough said tubular member.

3. A grain bin provided with an air conductor at the bottom of the bin,means for forcing air under pressure through said conductor and upwardlythrough said grain bin, an atomizing injector in said air conductor, andanother conductor through which a conditioning agent is transmitted tosaid atomizing injector, said air conductor being substantially verticalat said atomizing injector and provided with an indicating device belowsaid injector to show the atomization of the conditioning agent in saidair conductor.

LOUIS R. HENKLE.

